Ducks 4, Sharks 1: The historical significance.
How many historical precedents did the Ducks buck Monday?
• They became the fifth team to upset the NHL's best regular season-team (by standings points) in the first round since the expansion era began in the 1967-68 season. The previous four teams to upset the NHL's regular-season points leader:
2006: Edmonton defeated Detroit (56-18-8, 124 pts.), 4-2
2000: San Jose defeated St. Louis (51-19-11-1, 114 pts.), 4-3
1991: Minnesota North Stars defeated Chicago (49-23-8, 106 pts.), 4-2
1971: Montreal defeated Boston (57-14-7, 121 pts.), 4-3
• The Ducks became the eighth number 8 Seed to upset a number 1 seed in the first round since 1993-94, the first year of current playoff format. The previous seven:
2006: Edmonton (8) defeated Detroit (56-18-8, 124 pts.), 4-2
2002: Montreal (8) defeated Boston (43-24-6-9, 101 pts.), 4-2
2000: San Jose (8) defeated St. Louis (51-19-11-1, 114 pts.), 4-3
1999: Pittsburgh (8) defeated New Jersey (47-24-11, 105 pts.), 4-3
1998: Ottawa (8) defeated New Jersey (48-23-11, 107 pts.), 4-2
1995: NY Rangers (8) defeated Quebec (30-13-5, 65 pts), 4-2
1994: San Jose (8) defeated Detroit (46-30-8, 100 pts.), 4-3
• The Ducks became the 11th team in NHL history to beat a team who earned 110 or more standings points during the regular season in the first round. They join the 1971 Montreal Canadiens and 2006 Edmonton Oilers as the third team to beat an opponent who had earned 117 points or more.
2007: Nashville (110 pts.) lost to San Jose, 4-1
2006: Detroit (124 pts.) lost to Edmonton, 4-2
2006: Dallas (112 pts.) lost to Colorado, 4-1
2003: Detroit (110 pts.) lost to Anaheim, 4-0
2001: Detroit (111 pts.) lost to Los Angeles, 4-2
2000: St. Louis (114 pts.) lost to San Jose, 4-3
1986: Philadelphia (110 pts.) lost to NY Rangers, 3-2
1982: Edmonton (111 pts.) lost to Los Angeles, 3-2
1978: NY Islanders (111 pts.) lost to Toronto, 4-3
1971: Boston (121 pts.) lost to Montreal, 4-3
About J.P.
J.P. Hoornstra has been covering the Anaheim Ducks since 2007. Eight months after the University of Wisconsin won its third NCAA hockey championship, he was born in a frigid Madison winter. He betrayed his blue-blooded beginnings by graduating from UCLA in 2003, and welcomes any and all dialogue on the finer points of hockey.
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